Gwangju Italian restaurant for Hanwoo mushroom paella: Camel Orzo

Italian-style dining in Sangmu-dong with parking

It was such a delicious, upscale Western restaurant that I came back after my first visit! This is Camel Orzo, a new go-to Italian-style spot in the Switzen shopping complex in Gwangju.

Parking in Sangmu-dong is so difficult, right? But Camel Orzo has several parking options, so it is really convenient! I parked in the Switzen shopping-complex lot, which was nice and close because it is in the Switzen building. Just keep in mind that the lot can fill up on weekends~ It was quite spacious on weekdays!

Isn't the exterior so pretty?? They say it captures European Italian dining, and it has such an elegant feel, like you have arrived in Italy^^ The beautiful exterior alone put me in a good mood.

There is also a terrace outside, so brunch here on a lovely day like these would feel so nice, haha. There were actually lots of guests eating on the terrace~ I was a little sad to eat indoors because of the baby ㅠㅠ

It was so pretty that I even took a video~! It feels like Italy, haha (I have never been to Italy).

Classic interior and a high chair

The interior is wonderfully classic too~ With its stylish, European-like atmosphere, I feel like the delicious food would taste even better.

They have a high chair too. Personally, I like chairs with a baby set in front, and this feels like a restaurant with that kind of thoughtful consideration.

The tableware is set like this, and the staff come by to pour your water.

An easy-to-choose menu with photos

Here is the menu. We ordered the Hanwoo mushroom paella and Polbo Gamberi Rucola. It was great that the menu included photos, making it easy to understand and choose the dishes~ Sometimes a description alone does not tell you what a dish is, but Camel Orzo's menu feels thoughtful because it comes with photos too.

Pickles are also set out as a basic side.

Polbo Gamberi Rucola, ordered again

This dish is Polbo Gamberi Rucola. I had this pasta on my previous visit and it was so delicious that I ordered it again. I totally fell for it after trying it~ First of all, it has big pieces of octopus, and the savory green pesto sauce is the key. It is a harmonious pasta where pesto meets a truly delicious aglio e olio. It has plenty of octopus and shrimp, giving it a wonderful texture.

The octopus and shrimp were nicely seasoned and savory, so I really enjoyed them. Their texture was delightfully springy too. I thought the pesto and aglio e olio worked incredibly well together.

Hanwoo mushroom paella with beef and mushrooms

This is the Hanwoo mushroom paella. Doesn't it look appetizing just to see it~? It has the kind of visual you would expect from a Gwangju brunch.

Sliced beef was laid over the top, alongside large diced king oyster mushrooms that had been grilled. The grilling was perfect, the seasoning was just right, and it was so delicious. And the beef goes without saying, haha. The mushrooms were really good too!

Maybe because it is Hanwoo beef, it just melts in your mouth~ I already love king oyster mushrooms, so I thought the combination of meat and mushrooms, along with the distinctive paella sauce, worked beautifully.

Can you see those thick mushrooms?? The texture is incredible when you bite into them. The garlic was grilled in big whole cloves too, giving it such deep flavor.

I really love paella, and having deliciously grilled meat and mushrooms on top made the flavor even deeper~ The portion was larger than I expected too. I felt satisfyingly full after finishing it. The atmosphere is lovely, of course, but this is truly a brunch spot where the food is delicious. Since it is in the easy-to-reach Switzen shopping complex, I recommend having a meal at Camel Orzo on a fine day, where the atmosphere is great and the food is even better^^ I ate so well ❤️♥️